Clothesline tightener



Sept. 4, 1934.

c. J. SCHIESSER 1,972,321 CLOTHESLINE TIGHTENER Filed July 15, 1933 Patented Sept. 4, 1934 7 CLOTHESLINE TIGHTENER Clara J. Schiesser, Minneapolis Minn;

Application July 13, 1933, Serial No. 680,280

'1 Claim.

My invention relates to clothesline stretchers and the main object isto provide a highly efficient, inexpensive and simple device designed to be easily and quickly applied to a clothesline to make it taut with a minimum of effort and maximum eificiency.

In the accompanying drawing;

Fig. l is a top view of my device in initial posi-: tion to start stretching a clothesline, the latter being indicated in broken lines.

Fig; 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1 and showing a portion of clothesline in full lines, said line assurned to be in a slack condition.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of my improved clothesline stretcher in its locked or secured position, after having stretched a clothesline to desired taut condition.

Referring to the drawing by reference numerals, 4 designates a clothesline, usually stretched between suitable hooks on the cross arms of clothes poles (not shown).

It is well known that clotheslines, even if stretched taut initially, will become slack or stretch and sag from various causes such as weather conditions or because of weight on the lines when a large number of articles are suspended therefrom between supports. It is commonly known too that to prevent clothing thus suspended from dragging on the ground poles are often used to prop up the line between its end supports. My device eliminates the use of such props as will now be fully set forth.

The stretcher comprises a suitable hand hold or grip 5, in the upper end part of which is fixed a heavy wire crank member 6 projecting first horizontally from the top end of the handle approximately one inch, as at 6A thence bent back sharply in the same plane a similar distance as 6A to provide a primary rigid finger 6F. From 40 the latter end of this finger the wire is bent and extended in spaced relation to finger GP to form another but preferably longer finger 6F. From the latter finger, 6F, the wire is extended in horizontal plane a predetermined distance as 63,

which part is hereinafter designated the lever arm.

At the extremity of the lever arm 6B the wire is bent upwardly, as 60, thence bent and formed as an elongated eye or loop 6E paralled to the crank arm 6C and in upright plane. From the lower part of said head or loop 6E extends downwardly an integral part of the wire, designated-6H, which is parallel to part 6C and spaced slightly therefrom. GT is an integrally formed outward extension, or terminal, of the wire from thelower end of part 6H and as seen from the side (as in Fig. 2) is extended in a plane common with lever arm 6B and the loop 6E.

It will be readily seen that parts and 6H comprise a vertical neck and between which parts the clothesline 4 is initially engaged and retained frictionally while an operator holds the handle 5 vertically and with crank 6B just below the clothesline, as in Fig. 2.

Then the crank is rotated either to right or left, pivoting on the neck part 6H and 6C. This rotation causes the line to be wound around the said neck part, shortening the line and causing it to become as taut as may be necessary The device is held locked, in taut condition of the line, by merely stopping rotation of the device when the arm 6B is approxiinately parallel to and under the line, then frictionally engaging the line between the fingers 6F and SF and pressing it inward in the space between s'aid fingers, it being preferred thatthe adjacent sides of said fingers be tapered toward the connected parts of the fingers as distinctly (see Fig. 3).

shown in Fig. 1.

Obviously the arm 6B is a power arm, parts 6H and 60 comprising in effect a winding drum, the head 6E and extension 6T serving as upper and lower guards to keep the line guided properly while being wound around parts 60 and 6H.

The entire device is relatively small and but a small part of any clothesline need be left open for application of it.

Modifications of structure may be embodied without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

I claim:

A clothesline stretcher comprising a hand-hold, a bar metal crank arm extending from said handle at about right angles, an integral extension of said crank arm extending upwardly therefrom and thereabove formed as an elongated loop in common plane with the crank arm, a continuation of the bar from said loop downwardly in spaced relation and parallel to the first described upward extension from' the crank arm, and a terminal finger extending from the said downward extension outwardly approximately in alinement with the crank arm, and a clothesline engaging device intermediate said handle and the said loop and comprising an integral part of the crank arm formed as two horizontally directedtransverse fingers to frictionally retain the clothesline between adjacent faces of said fingers.

CLARA J. sonmssnn. 

